Representational photoAccording to the study, the tobacco industry has used CSR programs as a pretense to get closer to policymakers, government officials, and administrationBangladesh has scored 68 in the Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2020 meaning that the country is still highly vulnerable to the interference of the tobacco industry. Such findings have been presented in a study report titled, “Tobacco Industry Interference Index: FCTC Article 5.3 Implementation Report, Bangladesh,” unveiled on Saturday in Dhaka. The study shows that the tobacco industry has used the Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) programs of companies as a pretense to get closer to policymakers, government officials, and administration in order to exploit this connection to extract different benefits and to interfere in tobacco control activities. Liaison with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has been utilized by the tobacco industry as its conduit to interfere in the formulation of National Tobacco Control Policy. The MoHFW did not accommodate any of the tobacco industry’s unsolicited opinions on the draft National Tobacco Control Policy during the study period, which is undoubtedly a positive sign.

Source: Dhaka Tribune November 28, 2020 11:48 UTC